Rules

NCAA Rules

The National Field Hockey League is now adopting the NCAA Rules as our foundation rules in hopes of providing consistency during regulation and tournament league games. An entire list can be found on the United States Field Hockey Association Official Website. However, the following are rules specific to the NFHL and must be maintained by all members of the league. Please recognize these rules and note them to officials as per each regulation league game.

NFHL Rules

Click here for the 2011 Summary of Rule Changes

League Membership

Membership Requirements:

  • Members must send at least one representative to the mandatory annual league meeting.
  • Members must comply with all deadlines set by the NFHL.
  • Members must read and comply with all NFHL emails.
  • Members must complete all surveys and respond to all league votes.
  • Members must update team contact information in a timely manner.
  • Members must abide by all NFHL rules.

Failure to comply with the rules of the league will result in the following:

  • Probation until notified by league coordinators.
  • Team will be reinstated only by majority votes by co-coordinators and other team representatives.

League Dues

Membership Fees

  • Fall Season: $175 (includes costs for fields, officials, EMTs, trophy, and other fees associated with the Fall Championship weekend, as well as the T-shirts for All Stars).
  • Spring Tournament: dependent upon the hosting club team and varies per season.
  • The NFHL must receive team dues (or a letter of verification*) by the assigned deadline.
    • Teams may submit a letter from their school verifying that the paperwork for dues has been submitted.
    • If the NFHL has not received a check or letter from the school by the assigned deadline, the team will not be eligible for the Fall Championship/Spring Tournament.
    • Teams are responsible for checking the website to make sure the NFHL has received their dues by the deadline.

Eligibility for Fall Championship

Team Requirements:

  • Must be a Full member to be eligible for the Fall Championship.
  • Must have attended the previous Annual NFHL meeting.
  • Must have paid Annual dues.
  • Must not have an outstanding balance with the league.
  • Must have fulfilled minimum game requirements.

Game Requirements:

  • Teams must play a minimum of 7 games.
  • Opponents can be Full or Honorary members (max of 2 games against Honorary members). Only the first 2 games against Honorary Members will count towards the record.
  • Opponents may be from any division.
  • Teams are allowed to play up to 2 teams twice.

Reporting Scores:

  • Both captains will sign a Score Report Form at the end of each game (for their own records).
  • Home team ONLY report the score online.
  • If there is a problem with a score, teams should email the Home team to confirm the actual score.
  • Corrections should be emailed to scores@nationalfieldhockeyleague.com.

Ranking:

  • First place goes to the team with the highest winning percentage. Winning Percentage is derived by taking the total number of points and dividing that by the total number of games played. Points are assigned as follows:
    • 2 Points for a Win
    • 1 Point for a Tie
    • 0 Points for a Loss
  • If there is a tie between teams in regards to their game percentage, then the following is applied until the tie is broken:
    • Average Goals Scored for the season – total number of goals scored divided by the total number of games played.
    • Average Goals Allowed for the season – total number of goals allowed divided by the total number of games played.
    • Head to Head – the two teams who are in a tie will have their games viewed for the season. Whichever team has the highest number of points in that outcome wins. For example, if Team A beats Team B during the season, in the event of a tie between Team A and Team B, Team A would advance.
  • If there is still a tie after the first three tests, then who advances will be determined by a play-off game.
  • The top 16 teams in the league will advance to the Fall Championship.

All Stars

  • All Stars are players who have excelled throughout the season.  Team captains (both Honorary and Full) are required to:
    • Keep track of the number of votes players on their teams have received (each team is supposed to nominate the best player from the other team after the end of each game).
    • Reported their top two players (the positions that they played) to the league at the end of regular season play.
    • Notify their All Stars.
  • The names of the All Stars will be posted on our website and Facebook page.
  • All Stars who attend the Fall Championship will receive a free t-shirt.

Spring Tournament

  • All NFHL teams are invited to attend the Spring Tournament.
  • Teams must abide by all deadlines to enter the tournament:
    • ~2 months before (RSVP Deadline): Written RSVP must be received.
    • ~1 month before (Dues Deadline): Dues must be received or teams must submit a letter from their school verifying that the paperwork for dues has been submitted. If the NFHL has not received a check or letter from the school by the assigned deadline, the team is removed from the tournament. Teams that are removed will be notified by email by the NFHL.
  • Spring Tournament Cancellations:
    • All teams must cancel in writing (send email to kristin@nationalfieldhockeyleague.com).
    • Teams that have submitted a written RSVP and cancel on or before the Dues Deadline:
      • No penalty
    • Teams that have submitted a written RSVP and cancel AFTER the Dues Deadline:
      • Teams are still required to pay dues prior to the tournament.
      • Failure to pay dues before the tournament will result in probation until notified by league coordinators and a fine of $100.
      • Teams will be reinstated only by majority votes by co-coordinators and other team representatives and once the $100 fine is paid.
  • Spring Tournament “No Shows”:
    • Teams that have committed to coming to the Spring Tournament and do not show:
      • Will be put on probation until notified by league coordinators and must pay a fine of $100.
      • Team will be reinstated only by majority votes by co-­‐coordinators and other team representatives.

Players and Conduct

  • Start each game with immediate players (there must be a minimum amount of nine players, including the goalie, to be considered a regulation game). If there are men on the team, only two men on each team will be permitted on the field at any given time (with exception to the goalie). Thus, there can potentially be three men on the field during a regulation game providing the third male is the goalie.
  • If a team is missing players (due to late attendance, etc.) begin play with immediate players. However, the team with a full roster is allowed a one player advantage against the other team.
  • CONDUCT RULE: Players must treat all other players on and off the field with the utmost respect and dignity. Players are also expected to compose themselves maturely and have sportsman-like conduct on and off the field at all times. Anyone who fails to abide by the conduct rule will face the consequences stipulated under NCAA Rules.
  • FAN CONDUCT RULE: Teams are ultimately responsible for the conduct of their fans. Fans are expected to treat all players, coaches, captains, referees, and other fans with the utmost respect and dignity. As per the NCAA rules on misconduct:

    “Misconduct by personnel, players on the bench and/or spectators should be brought to the attention of the head coach*.  If continued misconduct occurs the head coach will ultimately be held responsible. It should be noted that use of profane and/or vulgar language, and/or harsh treatment towards opponents or umpires by personnel, players on the bench or spectators shall not be tolerated.”

    *For NFHL teams that do not have a head coach, the captain/president will be held responsible.

Game Structure

  • Fall Season – 30 minute halves with 10 minute half times.
  • Spring Season – 25 minute halves with 5 minute half times.
  • Substitutions – unlimited and rolling substitutions (except during overtime).

Scoring

  • Scoring rules are determined by NCAA rules. It is highly recommended that a copy of these rules by kept on you at all times.

Seven A Side

  • There should only be at most 2 males players at all times (1 goalie, 1 field player).

Cancellations/Forfeits

  • Cancellations must be made in writing (email) at least 7 full days before the date/time of the game.
  • Canceling within 7 full days results in a forfeit/loss and full reimbursement for the opposing teams: field time, official fees, and travel time (if applicabile). The team that forfeits will be marked in the NFHL records. If this team consistently cancels less than 7 full days before a game, the team will be put on probation and reinstated at the discretion of the NFHL officers.
  • In the event of unplayable rain or bad weather, games must be cancelled by phone no less than 3 hours prior to game time (or the traveling time of the opposing team – whichever is greater).

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